Dallas Personal Injury Law Blog

Distracted drivers are menaces to Texas roadways

On behalf of Jerry D. Andrews, P.C. on Friday, June 19, 2020.

Why should you or one of your loved ones have to suffer injury because another Texas driver chose to disregard traffic laws and safety regulations? It is never okay to fail to stop at a stop sign or to make unsafe lane changes or blow through red lights. Chances are, there are distracted drivers on the road every time you get behind the wheel or ride as a passenger in someone's car.

There are three main types of driving distraction. Some drivers deal with simultaneous distractions in more ways than one. Even a momentary distraction greatly increases the risk of collision. One minute, you might simply be commuting to work or driving to the grocery store. The next, a driver looking down at a cell phone might not see that you've stopped at a stop sign, and you could wind up in the back of an ambulance because of his or her negligence.

Drunk drivers take your life for granted

On behalf of Jerry D. Andrews, P.C. on Tuesday, May 19, 2020.

Perhaps one of the most frightening things to realize when you are on the road is that someone in another vehicle may have been drinking before getting behind the wheel. When you travel, alone or with your family, you may take every precaution to keep safe. Nevertheless, there may be others on the road who are not thinking of your safety, and these drivers pose a deadly risk.

Even a single alcoholic drink can impair someone's ability to react appropriately while driving. This can include reacting to basic cues, such as stop signs or the presence of another vehicle in his or her path. Someone who has been drinking freely may create a situation that places you and your loved ones in harm's way.

If you thought your brain could multitask you might be wrong

On behalf of Jerry D. Andrews, P.C. on Thursday, April 23, 2020.

Most safety campaigns to address distracted driving focus on texting or other smartphone use, almost disregarding other equally dangerous distractions. Drivers in Dallas County who thought they could multitask while driving are not alone. Safety authorities estimate as many as 660,000 drivers nationwide drive while distracted.

It may come as a surprise, but the human brain is able to process only a limited amount of information at a time. The primary task is to focus on the road and safe driving, and adding other activities distracts the brain from driving, forcing it to process other information.

Did someone's cell phone addiction cause your collision?

On behalf of Jerry D. Andrews, P.C. on Friday, March 20, 2020.

You'd likely have your work cut out to try to find an adult under age 75 in Texas who doesn't own a cell phone. Even people in older age groups often use cell phones nowadays. How attached are you to your phone? No matter what your current age happens to be, do you think you're at risk for developing an addiction to your cell phone? Addiction by any name, whether substance abuse, gambling or other, can be tough to overcome and can negatively affect lives.

Addiction often has a ripple effect, meaning it doesn't just affect your own life if you are addicted to something but has a way of causing adverse issues in the lives of the people around you as well. For instance, cell phone addicts often use their phones while driving, even if it's illegal in Texas or another state. This is a serious driving distraction that often leads to collision, which can have disastrous results for those involved.

Did someone's road rage cause your accident?

On behalf of Jerry D. Andrews, P.C. on Wednesday, February 19, 2020.

An incident of road rage can change your life in a moment. You may not even realize what you did to make the other driver so angry. In fact, you may not have even been involved in the altercation but simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Nevertheless, you and perhaps your passengers suffered injuries in the ensuing accident.

Road rage is at the root of many accidents, resulting in injury and death. A driver who cannot control his or her temper may use a vehicle as a weapon, but many road rage incidents involve firearms and other weapons. Aggressive driving and causing physical injury are criminal offenses in Texas, and this information may prove helpful if you are considering seeking compensation for your injuries through the civil courts.

Tailgating can cause accidents that lead to serious harm

On behalf of Jerry D. Andrews, P.C. on Wednesday, January 22, 2020.

Though patience is a virtue, you may wonder whether many drivers on Texas roads have heard of it. You likely see people speeding well above the speed limit and carrying out other dangerous driving maneuvers on a daily basis. It may seem as if everyone has to get to a particular destination at that exact moment or are already late.

Of course, these unsafe driving habits can easily put you and other drivers at risk of a car accident. Some people may think they drive well enough to avoid a collision, but crashes can happen to anyone at any moment.

Were you the victim of this holiday driving distraction?

On behalf of Jerry D. Andrews, P.C. on Thursday, December 26, 2019.

If you are like most other people in the Dallas area and beyond, you purchased at least one holiday gift online. Shopping from the comfort and safety of your own home has become the norm in recent years. The convenience of not having to battle the crowds, find a parking space and drive from store to store makes this form of shopping unbeatable.

However, online retailers probably never intended for people to shop their stores while driving. Unfortunately, that seemed to happen quite a bit this year, and some of it resulted in accidents. If you were the victim of an online shopper behind the wheel, you may be contemplating your legal options as the new year begins.

Can I afford an attorney after an accident, and do I need one?

On behalf of Jerry D. Andrews, P.C. on Sunday, November 24, 2019.

If a motor vehicle accident left you with serious injuries, you may wonder what your options are. Whether the other driver had no insurance, not enough insurance or an insurance provider that is balking at paying, you may be watching your medical bills and other expenses mounting while you try to figure out what to do next.

The thought of hiring an attorney to deal with the insurance companies and potentially guide you through a personal injury claim may have crossed your mind, but you may have dismissed the idea as something you could never afford. What you may not realize is that a personal injury attorney may help you reach your goals of obtaining compensation, and the cost may pleasantly surprise you.

Could drowsy driving be as dangerous as drunk driving?

On behalf of Jerry D. Andrews, P.C. on Thursday, October 24, 2019.

If you are like other conscientious drivers across Texas, you would never consider getting behind the wheel of your vehicle after drinking enough to experience a buzz or drunk. You know that the effects of alcohol could impair your judgement and otherwise make you lose control of your faculties, and present a danger to yourself and others on the road.

Would you give the same consideration to safe driving if you were sleep-deprived? If you cannot honestly answer this question affirmatively, don't despair -- you aren't alone. Most people don't consider drowsy driving as dangerous as drunk driving. Sadly, many who have made that same assessment caused accidents involving serious or fatal injuries.

How can technology make our roads safer?

On behalf of Jerry D. Andrews, P.C. on Thursday, September 26, 2019.

You've probably noticed dangerous distracted drivers while on a Texas road. Perhaps you've looked over to see a driver texting while on the interstate, or maybe you saw a person eating a cheeseburger while behind the wheel. From putting on make-up to looking at Facebook, distracted driving is a serious safety concern. In fact, it remains one of the leading causes of car accidents across the country.

Most car accidents are the result of reckless or negligent actions. Human error, from distraction to driving too fast, needlessly places innocent people at risk of an accident every day. In response to this threat, automakers have started included certain safety features in many newer vehicles. It is possible that these technological advances could eventually lead to safer roads and fewer car accidents.